The Christmas Complex and the Hanukkah Blues Jerry Ruhl, PhD Tuesday, November 27 7:30 – 9 pm | 1.5 CE hours Is the consumerism of the season making you tense, anxious, depressed? Does the prospect of annual visits with relatives trigger your alarm buttons? Feeling lonely, disappointed, let down by relationships that don't match the warm and cheery promise of holiday songs? Keep your expectations low and your contentment high this holiday season, as we explore the inner patterns that make Christmas and Hanukkah stressful and difficult for many of us. This entertaining and informative class will utilize film, lecture, discussion, and practical exercises to explore the pitfalls and promise of Christmas and Hanukkah when viewed through a psychological lens.Is It the Thought That Counts? The Anatomy of Gifts and Giving Anna Guerra, JD, MA, LPC Tuesday, December 4 7:30 – 9 pm | 1.5 CE hours It's that time of year again, the holiday-themed mass consumption season between Thanksgiving and the New Year. We anxiously direct our energy toward buying gifts for those in our life. What is the meaning of gift-giving? We will use lecture, film, and discussion to explore this important and complex part of human interaction, including how gifts help define relationships (sometimes strengthening social bonds with friends and family), the risk involved in giving the "wrong" gift, the many ways that the giver is rewarded, and the social importance of participating imaginatively in each other's lives.  Anna Guerra, JD, MA, LPC, is a depth psychotherapist in Houston, Texas, with emphasis and training in Jungian psychology. She holds degrees in philosophy, law, and clinical psychology. She is a frequent lecturer/teacher at The Jung Center, recently teaching their two-year extensive introduction to Jung and analytical psychology.Jerry Ruhl, PhD, is an author, psychologist, and the executive director of The Jung Center. With Robert A. Johnson, he is the co-author of Living Your Unlived Life, Contentment, and Balancing Heaven and Earth.